becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation

Sam Leeson
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

"becoming babyREADY" is a Queer-centred podcast exploring the journeys of 2SLGBTQIA+ family creation. Through conversations with Queer parents and professionals, we dive into what it takes to build intentional families — from legal and financial prep to emotional support and hands-on care. Rooted in Canada and reaching around the world, these stories offer insight, inspiration, and community for anyone growing their family with pride.

  1. 1d ago

    From Best Friends to Best Life: Sydney & Brit's Journey to Building Their Family

    How many times have you heard someone say they want to fall in love with their best friend? For Sydney and Brit, that wasn't just a wish — it's their real life. In this episode, we sit down with Sydney, who first met Brit in high school when their overlapping friend groups brought them together. What started as friendship deepened into something much bigger when they decided to spend their gap year exploring the world together before college. By the time they came home, they were, forever both changed and connected. Life pulled them apart geographically — Brit headed to school on the west coast, Sydney to the east — but it didn't take long for Sydney to realize her small liberal arts community wasn't the right fit. She packed up, moved home, and within months, she and Brit finally admitted what had been building between them all along. From there, things moved fast in the best way. By their second date, they'd already mapped out a shared dream: four kids. Turns out mother nature had other plans — the two of them ended up with four children and a bonus fifth, like a little gift with purchase. Today, Sydney and Brit are raising their beautifully dynamic family and sharing their story with the world on Instagram at @thesharonmoms. Tune in to hear how a high school friendship turned into a lifelong love story — and a family five kids strong. In this episode: How Sydney and Brit's friendship first formed in high schoolWhy they chose to spend a gap year traveling togetherThe turning point that brought them back to each otherFalling in love with your best friend — and what that really looks likePlanning a family of four... and getting fiveBuilding a beautifully dynamic, blended family lifeConnect with Sydney & Brit: Follow their family's story on Instagram @thesharonmoms

    From Best Friends to Best Life: Sydney & Brit's Journey to Building Their Family

  2. Sep 3

    Three Weeks of Heartbreak, One Miracle: The Journey to Becoming Dads - a conversation with Jake and Mike

    Sometimes the path to parenthood begins with a swipe right. Jake and Mike first connected online through social media. They worked in similar professions and had initially followed one another simply to see how the other approached their work. Then, in 2019, they matched—and swiped right. The rest, as they say, is history. When the pandemic arrived, COVID brought them together under one roof much earlier than they might otherwise have planned. It turns out, though, that they were exactly where they were meant to be. Years later, they're still together, stronger than ever, and building the family they had always dreamed about. Once they were married, Jake and Mike began researching the many different ways they could become parents. Adoption quickly emerged as the path that felt right for them, and they jumped in with both feet. But their journey was anything but simple. There were incredible highs and devastating lows. And then came three long weeks that brought every adoptive parent's worst nightmare to life. And then… a miracle. Today, Jake and Mike are a family of three. And as of July 2026, it is officially official: these two beautiful humans are proud dads to their son. In this episode of becoming babyREADY, Jake and Mike share the very real, emotional and ultimately joyful story of how they became parents. Their journey is a powerful reminder that family-building doesn't always follow a predictable path—and that sometimes, after the hardest chapters, comes the most extraordinary one of all. They also talk about Connecting Hearts, an organization that played a role in their journey and may be a valuable resource for others considering adoption. https://www.connectingheartsadoption.com And if you'd like to follow along as this family continues to blossom and grow, find Jake and Mike on Instagram at @twofloridadads

    Three Weeks of Heartbreak, One Miracle: The Journey to Becoming Dads - a conversation with Jake and Mike

  3. Aug 27

    Love, Family & the Unexpected Twists Along the Way - a chat with Lisa Boccuzzi

    When Lisa met Ali in 2013, she was simply taking a class that Ali was teaching. What began as a friendship would grow into a partnership, a marriage, and eventually, a family. After spending time living on both coasts, Lisa and Ali ultimately returned to the tri-state area, where their roots run deepest. Along the way, their relationship has been filled with moments that have shaped not only their own family, but also the families of some of the people closest to them. They took turns proposing to one another, married in 2022, and then began the exciting—and sometimes unexpected—journey of creating a family together. Lisa's story is a wonderful reminder that there isn't one prescribed route to building a family. Sometimes the path takes turns you couldn't have anticipated. Sometimes the people you meet along the way become part of your family in ways you never imagined. And sometimes the twists and turns that make your journey uniquely yours are exactly what make your family story so meaningful. In this episode of becoming babyREADY, Lisa shares the story of her relationship with Ali, their journey to marriage and parenthood, and the unexpected twists that helped shape the family they have today—and even influenced the family-building journeys of some of their closest friends. It's a story about love, friendship, chosen family, and discovering that there may be far more than one way to create the family you've dreamed about. Follow Lisa: @lisaboccuzzi on Instagram and TikTokRead Lisa & Allie's Substack: She's Not My Roommate — shesnotmyroommate.substack.com

    Love, Family & the Unexpected Twists Along the Way - a chat with Lisa Boccuzzi

  4. Aug 20

    The Very Best Part: 18 Queer Parents Share What They Love Most About Parenting

    What’s your favourite part of being a parent? It’s a question I ask at the end of every episode of becoming babyREADY — and this week, I decided to bring some of those answers together. In this special episode, I’ve gathered clips from 18 conversations with Queer parents, each answering the same simple but wonderfully revealing question: “What is your very favourite part of parenting your child or children?” The answers are as wonderfully varied as the families themselves. Some talk about the little everyday moments. Some talk about watching their children become fully themselves. Some make us laugh. Some might make you a little teary. And together, they offer something I think we could all use a little more of: a reminder of just how much joy, connection, discovery and love there is in parenting. Because while becoming a parent can involve navigating fertility, pregnancy, birth, adoption, donor conception, surrogacy, healthcare systems, family dynamics and a whole host of questions that can feel uniquely complicated for Queer families… Sometimes, it’s simply about the really, really good stuff. I had so much fun putting this episode together that I have a feeling this may not be the last time I create one of these “best of” episodes. There are still plenty of wonderful answers hiding in the archives! So settle in, listen to 18 Queer parents talk about the parts of parenting that make their hearts happiest — and maybe think about your own answer. What is YOUR very favourite part of parenting?

    The Very Best Part: 18 Queer Parents Share What They Love Most About Parenting

  5. Aug 13

    Perimenopause Isn't Just About Midlife—It's a Fertility Conversation (with Dr. Sheila Dyer, ND) Too

    At first glance, a conversation about perimenopause might seem like an unexpected topic for a podcast dedicated to family building. But as you'll discover in this episode, hormones influence so much more than we often realize—including fertility, pregnancy, and your overall reproductive health. This week, Sam sits down with Dr. Sheila, a naturopathic doctor whose practice focuses on hormonal health, fertility, and perimenopause. Together, they explore why understanding your body before beginning a fertility journey can make a meaningful difference. Dr. Sheila explains how comprehensive hormone testing—including Day 3 blood work, vitamin levels, and thyroid function—can help identify concerns before you begin fertility treatments, allowing you to move forward feeling informed and better prepared. The conversation also becomes deeply personal as Dr. Sheila shares their own experience navigating egg retrieval, IVF, and the emotional realities of building their own family. Whether you're just beginning to think about becoming a parent, preparing for IVF or IUI, or simply wanting to better understand your body, this episode offers practical information, compassionate insight, and plenty of hope. In this episode you'll learn: Why hormone health matters long before pregnancy.How naturopathic medicine can complement fertility care.What Day 3 hormone testing can reveal.The importance of checking thyroid and vitamin levels before treatment.One doctor's personal experience with retrieval and IVF.How proactive preparation can support your family-building journey.Learn more about Dr. Sheila:📸 Instagram: @drsheila_nd🌐 Website: sheiladyernd.com If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who is planning or growing their family. Every family has a beginning—we'd be honoured to be part of yours.

    Perimenopause Isn't Just About Midlife—It's a Fertility Conversation (with Dr. Sheila Dyer, ND) Too

  6. Aug 6

    The Postpartum Gap: Why Queer Families Need More Support, a conversation with Slade Riverfield

    From the moment you begin speaking with Slade, it's clear that compassion, respect, and a genuine commitment to caring for others are at the heart of everything they do. For almost 20 years, Slade worked as a nanny, spending the majority of their adult life caring for newborns, toddlers, and children. But over time, they began to recognize a significant gap: new parents simply weren't getting the postnatal support they needed. And when Slade looked more closely, they saw that the gap was even greater for families who are too often overlooked by mainstream systems — including people of colour and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. That realization became a catalyst for change. Although Slade has never given birth themselves, they recognized that supporting new parents meant committing to ongoing learning. Course after course, they built their knowledge and skills with the goal of becoming the most effective, informed, and respectful support possible for new families. In 2020, Slade and a peer brought that vision to life by creating The Queer Parenting Partnership — an organization built in collaboration with Queer parents, families, and professionals to help ensure that new families can access the resources, information, and support they deserve. In this episode, we talk about the realities of postnatal support, the gaps that continue to exist for Queer families and families of colour, and what it means to build resources with communities rather than simply for them. Because no new parent should have to navigate those early days alone. Learn more about The Queer Parenting Partnership: 🌈 Website: parentingqueer.co.uk📱 Facebook, Instagram & TikTok: @parentingqueer Want to support the work of The Queer Parenting Partnership? You can help support their work through: Easy Fundraising:  https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/the-queer-parenting-partnership KoFi: https://ko-fi.com/parentingqueer BuyMeACoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/parentingqueer PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/ParentingQueer  Every contribution helps support the work of creating more accessible, inclusive, and affirming resources for Queer parents and families.

    The Postpartum Gap: Why Queer Families Need More Support, a conversation with Slade Riverfield

  7. Jul 30

    From Military Life to Storytime: Jessica Trammell's Journey to Family, Creativity & Blast Off, Eleanor

    Being a 2SLGBTQIA+ family in the military can be incredibly hard — especially when you're constantly trying to "find your village” and rebuild your network every few years. But it can also open doors to opportunities most people never get. There aren't many kids (or adults, for that matter) who can say they walked the ball out to the mound at an MLB Pride Month game and lived in Germany, all before starting kindergarten. That's the world Jessica Trammell is building for her family — and it's just one thread in a much bigger story. Jessica has always been a storyteller. From writing imaginative stories as a child, to serving in the military and living around the world, creativity has remained a constant throughout her journey. It was while stationed in the Middle East that she met the love of her life, Tara — and the two quickly realized they shared something extraordinary, including a dream of building a family together. After Jessica's medical release from the military following their marriage, they began pursuing parenthood, and Jessica eventually found her way back to writing. Today, while Tara is stationed in Germany, Jessica is creating children's books that celebrate imagination, inclusion, and the many ways families can stay active together. In this episode, Jessica shares: The winding path that led her from military service to becoming a published children's authorWhy representation in children's literature mattersThe inspiration behind her debut book, Blast Off, EleanorHow she's building stories where every child — and every family — can see themselves reflected on the pageWhether you're a parent, an aspiring author, or someone who believes books have the power to shape kinder, more inclusive generations, this conversation is one you won't want to miss. Learn more about Jessica, purchase Blast Off, Eleanor, and follow her upcoming projects at www.jessicattrammellbooks.comFind her books on Bookshop.org, Amazon, and Barnes & NobleFollow her on Instagram: @author.jessica.trammell If you'd like, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who believes every family deserves to see themselves in the stories we tell.

    From Military Life to Storytime: Jessica Trammell's Journey to Family, Creativity & Blast Off, Eleanor

  8. Jul 23

    A Dad, an Adoption Story & a Book That Helps Kids Feel Seen: a discussion with Ian Duncan

    By their second date, Ian and Danny were already talking about something big: they both dreamed of becoming fathers. For Ian, that dream of fatherhood would eventually include adoption. Together, he and Danny welcomed their son, Carson, into their family. Now 13, Carson is at the heart of Ian's story as a father — and, in many ways, his journey as an author, too. Ian is a father, husband, teacher, and author, and in this episode, we talk about the power of stories and the messages we give children about family, identity, and belonging. Long before he became a parent, Ian was drawn to the messaging and meaning found in children's picture books. That love eventually became something more: the creation of RJ and the Ticking Clock, a picture book written by Ian and beautifully illustrated by Scott Ritchie. Ian is quick to point out that a picture book is a collaborative art form — and that the words and illustrations are equally important in bringing a story to life. It's a wonderful reminder that creating a book, much like creating a family, is about the coming together of different people, perspectives, and talents to create something greater than any one person could create alone. In this conversation, we talk about fatherhood, adoption, representation, storytelling, and the importance of creating books that help children feel seen, understood, and reflected in the stories they read. Because every child deserves to see their family represented — and every family deserves to know that their story belongs. Follow Ian and learn more about his work:Instagram: @ian_duncan.pb

    A Dad, an Adoption Story & a Book That Helps Kids Feel Seen: a discussion with Ian Duncan
See All (160)

Trailer

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

"becoming babyREADY" is a Queer-centred podcast exploring the journeys of 2SLGBTQIA+ family creation. Through conversations with Queer parents and professionals, we dive into what it takes to build intentional families — from legal and financial prep to emotional support and hands-on care. Rooted in Canada and reaching around the world, these stories offer insight, inspiration, and community for anyone growing their family with pride.

Information